Perth Voice Interactive

ALANNAH MacTIERNAN has refused to rule out running as an independent Senate candidate in September.

Scuttlebutt is doing the rounds of parliament that the former WA Labor planning minister—who contested the federal seat of Canning in 2010—will enter the race.

“Never say never,” the Vincent mayor said when the Voice called for comment.

“To rule out ever returning to politics would be foolhardy because I’m approached on a weekly basis by people who want me to get back in there.

“But at the moment I have no definite plans and am happy being Vincent mayor.”

Ms MacTiernan is still an ALP member and if she ran against endorsed Labor Senate candidates—even if it was to send preferences their way—party rules would see her barred from running as a Labor candidate for anything for at least two years.

There are six Senate spots up for grabs in WA at the election and on current polling the Coalition is quietly confident of taking four (with a Liberal and celebrity Nationals candidate David Wirrpanda slugging it out for the fourth spot). That would leave Labor with two spots and Greens senator Scott Ludlam looking for work. If the Coalition is elected to govern on September 14 it will want as many consertative senators as possible to break the Greens’ balance of power.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK